Punjab Teachers' Union Protests Against AAP Government's "Financial Crisis"

Strategic Insights -

The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) has announced a two-day protest across the state and a sit-in at Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains' native village, demanding over five months' pending salaries of teachers and staff from 136 aided colleges. The protest is a result of the government's "lethargic approach" to addressing the financial crisis, which has impacted education in the state. PCCTU members will also hold campus rallies and observe a mass casual leave to raise awareness among students about the issue.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) has announced a two-day protest across the state and a sit-in at Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains' native village.
  • The protest is demanding over five months' pending salaries of teachers and staff from 136 aided colleges, with the salary for March being released recently.
  • PCCTU representatives have met with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and other officials, who assured them that the grant would be released soon, but the situation remains unchanged.
  • The protest is a result of the government's "lethargic approach" to addressing the financial crisis, which has impacted education in the state.
  • The PCCTU members will also hold campus rallies and observe a mass casual leave to raise awareness among students about the issue.
  • PCCTU Ludhiana district secretary Dr Sunder Singh stated that the salary for five months from April to August is still pending, with the AAP government declaring an unofficial financial emergency in Punjab.
  • PCCTU Ludhiana district president Dr Chamkaur Singh stated that the staff from 136 aided colleges, including gardeners, sweepers, non-teaching, and teaching staff, have not received salaries for the past five months.

Statistics:

  • 136 aided colleges in Punjab have not received salaries for teachers and staff for over five months.
  • The salary for March was released recently, after several protests.
  • PCCTU members will hold campus rallies on September 16 to raise awareness among students.
  • 134 teaching staff members, 2,150 non-teaching staff members, and 500 support staff members from aided colleges are affected by the non-payment of salaries.
  • The PCCTU has observed 14 mass casual leave days since January 2017, with the current situation being one of the worst.

Sources:

  • "Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union announces two-day protest against AAP government's 'lethargic approach'", IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com.
  • "PCCTU to hold two-day protest against AAP government's 'financial crisis'", The Indian Express (P) Ltd, Copyright 2025 IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com.